Hockey: Belgium shut out third test

Elliot Fan Strydonck of Belguim clears the ball. Photo / Getty Images

Belgium won the third and final men's hockey against New Zealand with a 4-2 victory at Lloyd Elsmore Park in Auckland today.

The Black Sticks started the three-test series strongly in Whangarei with a 2-0 win earlier this week, before the Belgians fought back to level the series with a 4-3 victory.

Today, the visitors proved too quick and too strong for the New Zealanders, who started well and were rewarded inside five minutes when striker Stephen Jenness netted a reverse bullet high to the top left of the goal.

There was little time to relax, however, as the Belgians hit back right from the restart through Jerome Truyens.

Things settled down somewhat after the frenetic opening blitz, both teams taking a more measured approach as they probed for weakness.

Jenness and Marcus Child threatened the Belgian goal on occasion, while Felix Denayer and Tom Boon kept the New Zealand defence busy.

The scores were locked 1-1 at halftime, and Belgium started the second spell with purpose, forcing an early penalty corner which Black Sticks keeper Stephen Graham did well to keep out.

Things only got worse for the New Zealanders, as the Belgians increased their defensive pressure and turned possession into a series of counterattacks, finished off in style by Thomas Briels.

Briels found the back of the net twice in five minutes - the first, a drag flick high and to the left of Graham, the second a powerful shot drilled home after Belgium launched an attack up the middle.

The Black Sticks fought back with some slick passing, and Blair Hopping pulled one back with 12 minutes remaining, a beautiful reverse stick shot from the edge of the circle.

However, Belgium upped the tempo and added another goal to Florent van Aubel in the 64th minute put the game beyond doubt.

The New Zealanders now continue their five-test series against South Korea after losing the opening match 2-3 in Auckland yesterday.

They play two matches in Hamilton on February 16 and 17, then move to Tauranga for the last matches on February 19 and 20.

Belgium 4 (Thomas Briels 2, Jerome Truyens, Florent van Aubel) New Zealand 2 (Stephen Jenness, Blair Hopping). Halftime: 1-1.

- NZPA